By CAROLINE BECK, Alabama Daily News
The Alabama Workforce Council is asking employers to participate in a survey in order to research and eventually improve the health and wellbeing of Alabamians in the workplace.
AlabamaWorks! and the Alabama Workforce Council have partnered with the Alabama Department of Mental Health, the University of Alabama and the Vital Initiative to create a 15-minute survey.
“Our state’s labor force is the cornerstone of workforce development efforts, and this survey will help promote a healthier workplace and workforce that will continue to drive our 21st-century economy”, said AWC Chairman Tim McCartney.
Employers of all sizes and from each industry sector are encouraged to respond to the survey.
The results of the survey will be used to inform public policy decisions on workplace health promotion and help employers build effective, science-based workplace health programs for their employees, the press release said.
Mental illness and substance use disorders are well-established drivers of disability, mortality and healthcare costs for employers, according to the release. On average, Americans who work fulltime spend more than one-third of their day, 5 days a week, at their workplace.
Workplace programs that promote and protect health, reduce safety risks and help prevent disease could reach more than 157 million U.S. workers. A healthier workforce can mean lower direct costs, such as insurance premiums and workers’ compensation claims, and lower indirect costs if workers miss less work because of illness.
Responses will be accepted from now until 5 p.m. Aug. 31.